Amusement device



Feb. 26, 1924. 1,484,752 A. G. APPERSON ET AL AMUS EMENT DEVICE FiledMay 9 1.922 4 Sheets-Sheet l //V VEN IIPS A. 5. APFEHS'N M. LVDLFLEATTJYS.

Feb. 26 1924.

A. G. APPERSON ET AL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 9 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2N. .WD'L FLE ATTYS.

Feb. 26, 1924. 1,484,752 A. G. APPERSON ET AL AMUSEMENT DEV I CE FiledMay 9, 1.922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F/f'z' 7 Feb. 26 1924. 1,484,752 A. G.APPERSON ET AL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 9, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gum..[1|

/N VEN TDR5 A. E. A PPEE'SN M WDLFLE on, the operation of the PatentedFeb. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES ALVIE G. .A PPERSON' MATHEW WOLFLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA.

AMUS'EMENT DEVICE.

Application led May 9,

To all whom c't ma/y concem:

Be it known that we, ALVIE G. APPERsoN and MATHEW WOLFLE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county. of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention qrelates to amusement devices of the type such asemployed at amusement parks, carnivals, street fairs and the like, andhas particular reference to a novel game and amusement apparatus whichrequires skill in the playing and also takes into consideration anelement of chance.

An object vof the invention is to provide amusement apparatus which willinclude a plurality of toy airplanes and such scenery as will representa {ieet of planes circling over, for example, a body of water withships, forts, islands and light-houses thereapparatus or the playing ofthe game consisting in causing the various objects disposed in thescenery to be bombed by the airplanes, there being mechanism by means ofwhich the player or players may, at will, cause missiles simulatingbombs to be dropped from the airplanes.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which will provide realistic effects and cause anaudible report simulating the firing of a cannon or gun when a hit ismade.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed which is arranged so that a great number of persons may playthe game at the same time without interference or confusion.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some of which,with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the followingdescription where we shall outline in full that form of the inventionwhich we have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying andforming a part of the present specification. In saidv drawings we haveshown one 'form of the construction of our invention, but it is to .beunderstood that we do not limit ourselves to such form since theinvention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality offorms.l

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a sectional view partly 1922. serial No. 559,661.

in side elevation of the apparatus of our invention, parts being removedfor the sake of clearness of illustration.

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the principal visible elements ofthe apparatus, parts of which are broken away.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged side elevation broken away in part, of themeans for automaticall producing a light report coincident wit themaking of a hit Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view vof the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view-partly in elevation and broken away showinthe bombing yapparatus as associated wlth the airplanes and means forrotating the planes.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the actuating mechanism such as would bemounted at the counter.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the mechanism in sideelevation.

Fig..11 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit for one of theairplanes.

Referring particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings, 1 represents a counter at which players of the apparatus willstand, 2 the scene and target unit of the apparatus, 3 the airplaneunit, 4 the support for the airplane unit. In practice the apparatus ispreferably set up within a small stand or booth, such as commonly emploed at amusement parks, resorts and the l1ke, the counter 1 being a partof the stand or booth as well as the structure 4 for supporting theairplane unit. This arrangement may be varied as desired depending uponthe conditions of installation of the apparatus, but preferablyinc'ludes steps 5I leading up to the supporting means or platform 4.

The scenery and target unit 2 comprises essentially a landscape or waterscene having objects such as ships, forts, houses, etc., whichconstitute the targets, although we may use any other kind of scenery ortype of target, as desired. We prefer, as shown, a tank 6, preferablycircular, having water therein and mount at various oints within thetank, targets such as a s ip 7, lighthouse 8, islands 9 and forts 10.This tank is a minature airplane 21.

6 will be disposed behind the counter 1 in such position that themechanical parts of the apparatus are hidden from View to personsstandin in front of the counter 1. Outside of t e tank adjacent to theouter wall thereof at spaced points, are a plurality of target or hitscoring devices, there being as shown, four of these devices designateu11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively. The targets are so arranged as toconceal the mechanisms 11 to 14 inclusive. Each target mechanism isdisposed behind a target so as to give the impression that the target ishit by the missile, as will be later described. In reality the saidmissile or bomb will, if pro erly released, strike one of the target mecamsms and in no instance will drop within the tank.

The airplane unit 3 comprises a vertical shaft 15, journaled andsuspended in a suitable bracket bearin 16, attached to a suportingstructure 1 This shaft is driven y a motor 18 with suitable gearing 19,and extends below the support 4 to a point over the central portion ofthe tank 6, but well above said tank. Any suitable means may be employedto conceal the lower portion of the shaft and 'mechanism associatedtherewith and it is thought unnecessary to illustrate this arrangement.The lower portion of the shaft has a plurality of radially, preferablytubular, supporting arms 20 extending therefrom substantiallyhorizontally. Upon the outer end of each arm There may be as many ofthese planes as desired, say for example, from five to twenty. The armsare of such lengths that the planes will be disposed above the outerwall of the tank 6 whereupon when the planes are rotated, they willtraverse a path concentrically with but spaced outwardly from the outerwall of t e tank 6. The planes will be arranged so that they will bevisible to the players of the game standin in front of the counter 1 andare preferab y several feet above the apparatus 2.

The bombin means includes the tubular arms 20 and a omb hopper 22, whichlatter is fixed to the lower part of and rotatable with the shaft 15.The arms 2O are bent so as to extend upwardly as at 2l at their innerends and engage in openings 23 formed in the bottom wall of the hopper22, the upper ends of the ortions 22 and said arms being ush with t einner surface of the hopper. A plurality of metal balls 24 are mountedin the hopper so that they will readily gravitate into the upwardlydirected portions 23 of the arms 20 and pass thru the arms, which areslightly downwardly inclined to the airplane. To prevent the balls fromjamming or wedging within the hopper a member 25 is extended into thehopper so as to act as a stirring element, said member being fastened tothe support 4 as at 26 at its upper end. It will thus be seen that thetubular arms 20 are at all times filled with the metal balls.

The outer ends of the arms 20 are so attached to the mediate portions ofthe bodies of the airplanes 21, that said balls will be discharged intochambers 27 provided on the bodies of the airplanes. Mounted on eachairplane body is a notched wheel 28, the notches 29 of which are adaptedto be moved past the discharge end of the arm 20 so as to receivetherein the balls 24, the movement of the wheel causing the balls to becarried in the notches to points opposite the discharge opening 30 inthe body of the airplane, the balls dropping through said dischargeopening 30 clear of the airplane. This operation simulates the droppingof bombs. The wheel 28 is held against movement by a spring detent 31,which engages with the perimeter of the wheel 28. In order to providefor movement of the wheel to bring one of the notches therein containingone of the balls over the discharge opening, the wheel has fixed uponits upper side a ratchet wheel 32. A pawl 33 cooperates with the ratchetwheel sol that when pulled will turn the ratchet and notched wheels adistance equal to substantially the width of one notch. One end of thepawl is attached to a retractile spring 34 and the other end of thesprin is attached as at 35 to the body of t e airplane, said springbeing arranged so as to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchetwheel and to resist pulling movement of the pawl as is required foroperating the ratchet. A lever 36 is pivoted as at 37 intermediate ofits ends upon the airplane body, and one end thereof is ivoted as at 38to the other end of the paw The other end of the lever is bent inwardlyt0 provide a detent 39 which is adapted to extend into the notches tolimit the movement of the notched wheel upon each operation of the pawl.The armature 39 of a solenoid magnet 40 is connected with the lever 36by means of the pivot 38 so that when said magnet is energized the lever36 is rocked and the pawl is given a pull such as will cause the notchedwheel to turn. The magnet is energized by operating means selectivelyemployed by the operators or players of the game, sald means to behereinafter described. To render the planes more realistic a small motor41 may be mounted on each plane and arranged to continuously drive thepropeller 42.

The operation of the bomb or pawl releasing mechanism on the airplane isprovided for by a. plurality of actuating devices 43 which are mountedupon the counter 1 and accessible to persons operating the mechanism orin other words, playing the game. Preferably each airplane will benumbered or lettered, or otherwise given some special designationclearly visible to the players and the operating devices 43 on thecounter will be correspondingly designated, there being one for eachairplane. This is necessary in order that the players may pick out theparticular airplane with which to `carry out the bombing of a certaintarget or' targets.

Each of the devices 43 comprises a container o r box 44, in whichcircuit closing mechanism is mounted. This mechanism comprises anoperating lever 45 which is pivoted intermediate of its ends as at 46 inthe box 44 and extends outwardly from the box through an opening 47 inone side wall thereof. Pivoted at one end to a mediate part of the leveras at 48 is a pawl 49, the hook end 50'of which is adapted to cooperatewith a ratchet wheel 51, which wheel is fixed to the under side of thenotched or serrated wheel 52, both wheels having a common rotatablemounting 53. A leaf spring 54 is lixed to the box as at 55 and preesagainst the perimeter of the notched or serrated wall 52 sov as toprevent accidental movement of said wheel and maintain the `same undertensionat all times. A similar leaf sprin 56 is disposed on the otherside of the box so as to engagel the ratchet wheel 51. A retractilespring 57 is attached at one end to the box and at its other end to thelever 45 so as to normally i hold said lever in operative position. The

inner end of the lever is bent to provide a detent or stop member 58which is adapted to engage the notches or serrations 52 to limitmovement of the wheel each time the lever is actuated. The mechanismabovedescribed is primarily for the purpose of registering the number ofplays made by the operator or player of the game. The circuit closingmeans more particularly comprises an arm 59 fixed as at 60 to the leverand extending beyond the inner end thereof. To the outer end of this armis attached an inverted U-shaped member 61 and between opposite side orarm portions 62 and 63 thereof a switch lever 64 is disposed. The switchlever 64 extends upwardly from a standard type of circuit closing device65 which is mounted beneath the member 61, and need not be illustratedin detail. When the switch lever 64 is moved in one direction, thecircuit is closed, and in the other direction, the circuit is opened.Thus, when the lever 45 is grasped and moved from left to right as shownin Fig. 9, the arm 63 of the member 61 will engage the switch lever 64and operate the circuit closing means so as to close the circuit for theoperating magnet or solenoid 40 on the airplane associated with theparticular actuating mechanism. When the lever is thus rocked to itsdotted line position as shown in Fig. 9, the pawl 49 through the ratchetwheel 51 moves the wheel 50 one notch and when the lever is released thespring returns it to former position and in so moving causes the side 63of the member 61 to engage and move the switch lever 64 so as to openthe circuit for the magnet 40 thereby restoring the mechanism to normalposition. The wheel 51 is a tally wheel and has opposite the notchestherein, numbers from one to five, or otherwise as desired. Thesenumbers are preferably arranged so that they are visible and readable tobot-h the players and attendant standing in front of and behind thecounter respectively. Any suitable arrangement of this sort ma beadopted, but preferably that shown in ig. 9.

The electrical circuit for operating the airplane motors and solenoids40 to actuate the bomb releasing mechanism is illustrated in detail inFig. 11 of the drawings and includes a plurality of discs 66 mountedupon the shaft 15 and insulated from'one another by insulation elements67. For the sake of convenience in desoribin the discs as a part of thecircuit, the first t ree are designated A, B and C, as shown in thedrawings. Three discs are required for each airplane. Mounted close tobut spaced from the discs is a frame 68 which carries a plurality ofbrushes 69, three of which are designated X, Y and Z, for convenience ofdescription. The brushes contact with the discs so that an electricalconnection is made between the revolving discs and stationary parts andtransmission of the current may be made to the respective airplanes. Thediagrammatic view discloses a complete circuit as provided for oneairplane only and since' the manner in which the other planes areconnected in the circuit will be readily apparent, no furtherillustration is necessary. From one side of a source of electricalenergy 70 a conductor 71 leads and is connected with the brush X, whichmakes electrical contact with the disc A. From the other side of thesource of energy, a conductor 72 leads to the brush Y, which contactswith the disc B. The shaft 15 is hollow and conductors 73 and 74 areconnected respectively with the discs A and B, extend downwardly throughthe shaft and from thence along said arms 2() to the propeller motorofthe airplane. This completes the circuit for the airplane motor, whichmotor will run continuously when the airplanes are moved over thetargets. By making suitable connections with the other discs andconductors 71 and 7 2, the other airplanes may be likewise electricallyconnected, it being thought unnecessary to illustrate this. Leading fromthe conductor 73 is a conductor 75 which is connected with the solenoid40. The other side of the circuit for the solenoid has one of theactuating devices 43 connected in series therewith and includes aconductor 76' which extends along side the conductors 73 and 74 throughthe hollow shaft and is connected with the disc C.' The brush Zcontacting with the disc C is connected with the circuit closer by meansof a conductor 77. A conductor 78 leads from the'circuit closer 65 andis connected to the conductor 7 2, thus completing the circuit for thesolenoid 40. This circuit, however, is opened and closed by the circuitcloser 64, which is in turn operated by the lever 45. It will thus beseen that by means of the plurality of operating devices 43, the circuitfor the solenoid 40 of any one of the airplanes may be closed at will soas to cause the bomb releasing mechanism to drop a bomb at the will ofthe operator.

The trigger mechanisms 11 to 14 inclusive are identical as toconstruction. Each comprises a lever-like trigger 80 pivotedintermediate of its ends as at 81 to a bracket 82 extending outwardlyfrom the upright wall of the tank 6. A counter weight 83 is provided onone end of the lever so as to overbalance said lever and tend to forceone end downwardly at all times and the other end of the lever extendsthrough a recess 84 in the side of the hopper 85. The hopper 85 isprovided with a tapered bottom 86 extending downwardly from which is atubular member 87, the balls or bombs, if properly directed will strikethe last named end of the lever 80 and the weight thereof will depressthe lever causing it to rock as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, theballs thereafter dropping into the hopper and passing throu h the pipe87 through the lower curve end 88 of the pipe onto an inclined runway89. This runway extends around the tank and its lowermost point is atthe rear ofthe tank. A wall 90 surrounds the tank in spaced relationthereto so as to form with the wall of the tank and the runway, achannel for the balls. At the rear side of the tank the wall 90 isprovided with an openin 91 which provides for rolling of the balls o ofthe runway to a point where they may be collected by an attendant of theapparatus.

The trigger when released sets into operation mechanism which will causea loud report to be made simulating the report of a gun or cannon. Theprime mover for this mechanism is a weight 92, there being a. weight foreach of the trigger mechanisms 11 to 14 inclusive. In each mechanism thewei ht is mounted to vertically slide in a gui e 93 and is held in setor up position so that when released it will drop and thereby actuatethe said mechanisms as will be later described. The means for holdingthe weight in up position comprises a short lever 94 pivotedintermediate its ends as at 95 to the lower end portion of an uprightlever 96. The lever 96 is ivoted at a point above the pivot as at 9 to abracket 98 carried by the guide 93. The upper end of the lever isadapted to engage in a notch 99 formed in the trigger 80 so as to holdsaid trigger in set position. The lower end of the lever 94 is providedwith a shoulder 100 adapted to cooperate with notches y101 in theadjacent side of the weight 92 and is also formed with a cam face 102which will permit of the weight being moved past the said end of thelever such that vthe notches 101 may be engaged with said shoulder. Aleaf spring 103 llxed at its upper end to the side wall of the tankbears against an abutment member 104 on the upper end of the short lever94 and also engages at its lowermost point a mediate portion of theshort lever elow the pivot 95. When the trigger is rocked and disengagedfrom the lever 96, the spring, in pressing outwardly on the short lever,will cause said lever to move bodily outwardly free of the weight andthe longer lever will be rocked and moved to a position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3, whereupon the weight 92 will be released.

Extending from the upper end of the weight is a flexible element 105,which passes upwardly and overa pulley 106 mounted in a bracket 107disposed in the outer face of an upright wall of the structure. From thepulley 106 the flexible element extends to and is connected withmechanism ,generally designated 107', which mechanism cooperates with aratchet wheel 108 fixedy to a larger wheel 109. The wheel 109 is mountedupon a shaft 110 suitably journaled between the tank and wall 90. Themechanism 107' comprises a lever 111, which is pivoted intermediate ofits ends as at 112 toA a suitable support. The flexible lelement issecured at one end of this lever so that when a pull is communicatedthru said llexible element the' lever will be rocked. One end of thelever is arranged to provide a detent 113, which latter will engage theperiphery of the ratchet wheel 108 to limit the move ment of the-ratchetwheel. A pawl 114 having a hooked end 115 cooperating with the ratchetteeth, is pivoted as at 116 at its other end to the lever 111, wherebywhen the lever is rocked the pawl will p-ull on the ratchet wheel so asto rotate the same and cause the wheel 109 to be turned correspondingly.The wheel 109 is provided with a. plurality of openings 117 extendingtrans-- versely therethru ad `acent it-s periphery. These openings areadapted to receive detonating devices, such as fire-crackers 118. Thelire-crackers are so arranged that the fuses 119 will project from oneside face of the wheel. A miniature gun or cannon 120 is carried by thetank Wall and arranged so that it will be visible from in front of thecounter 1. The breech end of the gun is disposed in close proximity toone side of the wheel 109 whereby the opening in the breech willregister with openings 117 and upon the explosion of the lire-crackers,smoke will issue from the muzzle-of the gun. The openings for thefire-crackers are so arranged that upon each dropping of the weight themechanism 107 will function to move the wheel so as to bring onefire-cracke into position opposite the gun or cannon 1 0.

The fuse igniting means comprises an electrically heated device 121 ofany suitable character but such that it will produce sufficient heat toignite the fuses 119. This device is carried upon one end of a lever 122and is normally spaced outwardly from the side of the wheel 109 at whichthe fuses 119 are disposed. The lever 122 is pivoted at its lower end tothe floor or other support as at 123 and is adapted to swing towards andaway from the wheel 109. A lever 124 extending horizontally or at rightangles to the lever 122 is pivoted intermediate of its ends as at 125 toa support or bracket 126 and at one end is pivo-ted as at 127 to amediate portion of the lever 122. When the lever 124 is rocked the lever122 is moved back and forth so as to bring the igniting device 121 intoand out of position, whereupon it will ignite the fuse of thefire-cracker. The lever 124 is actuated by a slide member 127 which ismountedin a slidable guide 128 attached to an adjacent wall of thestructure. Attached to the weight 92 is a cam device 130 whichcooperates with an inclined slide member 131 in turn fixed as at 132 tothe slide member 127 When the weight drops thecam device causes themember 127 to be pushed outwardly and to rock the lever 124 in suchmanner that the lever 122 will cause the igniting device 121 to engagethe fuse of the {ire-cracker and ignite the fuse. When the weight israised the cam device will detract the device 127' and rock the lever124 so as to move the device 121 out of igniting position. There isprovided means for returning the weight of each trigger mechanism andits associated parts .to normal position, this means being operated by ahand v`level' 133 which is pivoted as at 134 to a point on the rear sideof the counter 1.

`Attached to the lever as at 135 and 136 are flexible elements 137 and138 which extend downwardly from the lever around pulleys 139 ,and 140and then horizontally from said pulleys to similar pulleys 141 and 142respectively, located in a space between the tank wall and wall 90..From the pulleys 141 and 142 the elements 137 and 138 extend upwardly,the one 137 around a pulley 143 and the one 138 around a similar pulley144. The pulley 143 is mounted in the upright structure of the tank andafter passing over said pulley the cable or flexible element 137 extendsdownwardly to and is connected with the upper end of the weight 92.Thus, it will be seen that the element 137 serves as a means for liftingthe weight into set position. The pulley 144 is mounted on said walladjacent to a transverse opening 146 formed thru said wall. The cable138 passes over the top of the pulley 144 and is connected with one endof a lever 147. The lever 147 extends thru the opening 146 and ispivoted'y to the wall ras at 148, within the opening. The side edge ofthe lever is adapted to engage the lower portion of the trigger lever 96and intermedlate portion of the short trigger lever 94 whereu on when apull is communicated thru the -exible element 138 such as will cause thefree end of the lever 147 to move towards the trigger levers saidtrigger levers. willv be moved into set position.

Mounted on the wheel 109 is a disc 150 which is provided with apluralityof slots 151 near its periphery, the slots receiving pins 152projecting from the/wall, whereby movement of the disc 150 is'limited.The disc is provided with a plurality of openings 153 adapted to bemoved into and out of registration with the openings 117 for thefire-crackers. In loading the wheel with firecrackers, the disc is movedto brin the openings into registration and after oading is moved intoposition shown in Fig. 3, so as to almost entirely cover the .openings117, there being left a small space suiicient` to permit the fuse of thelire-crackers to project outwardly from the disc.

We claim:

1. Amusement apparatus comprising a plurality of target elementsconstructe to simulate buildings, ships or other structures, a counterbehind which said elements are arranged to be visible from a point infront of the counter, a plurality of toy airplanes, means for rotatablysupporting sald airplanes in a position such that they may be moved overthe targets and are visible Jfrom in front of the counter, means formoving said airplanes, means for delivering to each airplane a pluralityof missiles, one at a time, and means operable from the counter forreleasing the missiles one at a time from one or more airplanes asdesired at the will of the operator.

2. Amusement apparatus comprising a plurality .of target elementsconstructed to simulate buildings, ships or other structures, a counterbehind which said elements are arranged to be visible from a point 1nfront of the counter, a plurality of toy airplanes, means for rotatablysupporting said airplanes in a position such that they may be moved overthe targets and are visible from in front of the counter, means' formoving said airplanes, means for delivering to each airplane a pluralityof missiles, one at a time, missile releasin means, means operablefromthe counter or controlling the operation of the missile releasingmeans at Will and meansfor causing a loud report to be made includingtrigger mechanism arranged with relation to the targets so as to -beoperated when struck by a missile dropped ,from an airplane.

3. Amusement apparatus comprising a plurality of target elementsconstructed to simulate buildings, ships or 4other structures, a counterbehind which said elements are arranged so that they are visible from apoint in front of the counter, a plurality of aerial vehiclesk mountedover the targets, means for supporting and movin said aerial vehiclesover the targets suc that they will be visi-ble during such movementfrom a point in front of the counter,means for supplying 'to each aerialvehicle a plurality of missiles, means in each aerial vehicle forreleasing the missiles and means controllable at the counter andarranged so that one or more releasing means of the vehicles may beindependently or simultaneously actuated.

4. Amusement apparatus comprising ka plurality of target elementsconstructed to simulate buildings, ships or other structures, a counterbehind which said ele-ments are arranged so that they are visible from apoint in front of the counter, a plurality of aerial vehicles mountedover the targets, means for supporting and moving said aerial vehiclesover'the targets su'ch that they will be visible during Such movementfrom a point in front of the counter, means for supplying to each aerialvehicle a plurality of missiles, means in each aerial vehicle forreleasing the missiles, means controllable at the counter and arrangedso that one or more releasing means of the vehicles may be independentla plurality o tri ger mechanisms associated with the target e ements sothat they may be struck by the missiles and moved when so struck andmeans operating when the trigger mechanism is operated to produce a loudnoise simulating the report of a gun.

5. Amusement apparatus comprisin a plurality of target elementsconstructed' to simulate buildings, ships or other structures, aplurality of to aerial vehicles, a rotary member dispose above thetarget elements, a plurality of tubular supporting arms extending fromthe rotary member and suplporting the aerial vehicles so that they W1 berotated over the targets, a plurality of missiles simulating bombs, acontainer on said rotating member in which said missiles are carried,said tubular arms having communication with the container and arrangedso that the missiles will or simultaneously actuated,

gravitate through said arms to the aerial vehicles and meanscontrollable from a stationary point for releasing the missiles from theaerial vehicles.

6. Amusement apparatus comprising a plurality of target ele-mentsconstructed to simulate buildings, ships or other structures, aplurality of toy aerial vehicles, a rotary member, arms extending fromthe rotary member and supporting saidaerial vehicles in such manner thatthe vehicles will be moved over the targets upon rotation of the rotarymember, means for rotating the rotary member, a plurality of missilesandmeans including said arms for delivering the missiles tothe vehicle,means on each vehicle for releasing the missiles, one at a time, andmeans controllable from a stationary point for lactuating said releasingmeans at Will.

7. In amusement apparatus of the character described a plurality oftarget elements simulating buildings, ships or other structures, akplurality of toy aerial vehicles, means for supporting said vehicles inposition above said target elements, means for moving said aerialvehicles, a plurality of missiles simulating bombs, means for feedingmissiles to the respective aerial vehicles, means controllable from astationary point for releasing at will a missile from any one of thevehicles, trigger mechanism associated with the target elements andadapted kto be struck by the missiles, a rotary member having aplurality of fused detonating devices thereon, a fuse igniting memberand means operating when each trigger mechanism is operated for movingthe igniting means and the means supporting the detonating device suchthat the fuse on one of said detonating devices will be ignited and aloud report will be made coincident with the striking of the triggermechanism.

8. In amusement apparatus of the character described a plurality oftarget elements simulating buildings, ships or other structures, aplurality of toy'aerial vehicles, means for supporting said vehicles inposition above said target elements, means for moving said aerialvehicles, a pluralit of missiles simulating bombs, means for eedingmissiles to the respective aerial vehicles, means controllable from `astationary point for releasing at will a missile from Iany one of thevehicles, trigger mechanism associated with the target elements andadapted to be struck by the missiles, a rotary member having a pluralityof fused detonating devices thereon, a fuse igniting member, meansoperating when each trigger mechanism is operated for moving theigniting means and the means supporting the detonating device such thatthe fuse of one of said detonating devices will be i nited and a loudreport will be made coincldent with the striking of the triggermechanism and means for returning the last named means to normalposition.

9. In amusement apparatus a luralit of target elements simulating builings, s ips and other structures, a plurality of toy aerial vehicles, arotary member, a, pluralit of tubular arms connected with and exten ingoutwardly from the rotary member and supporting the aerial vehicles, ahopper on the rotary member into which said tubular arms extend, aplurality of missiles in the form of balls contained in the hopper andadapted to gravitate through the tubular arms of the aerial vehicle, adischarge opening through which the missiles are dropped in eachvehicle, a notched wheel on each vehicle for receiving missiles from thearm moving them over each discharge opening, electro-magnetic means foractuating said notched wheel, and electrical circuit for said means anda circuit closer located at a station-ary point whereby when closed, theelectro-magnetic means will actuate the notched wheel and cause amissile to be dropped, there being a circuit -and circuit, closer foreach aerial vehicle.

10. In amusement apparatus a supporting structure, a trigger pivotedupon the supporting structure adapted to be engaged and rocked by amissile dropped thereon,

means for dropping missiles upon the trigger, a hopper into which oneend of the trigger extends and through whlch the missiles pass afterrolling off of the trigger, a weight member normally held in suspendedposi- .other structures, a counter behind tion, means actuated uponrocking of the trigger for releasing the weight member and Ameansoperated when the Weight member falls for causing a report to be madesimulating the report of a gun.

11. In amusement apparatus a supgorting structure, a trigger pivotedupon t e supporting structure adapted to be engaged and rocked by amissile dropped thereon, means for dropping missiles upon the trigger, ahopper into which one end of the trigger extends and through which themissiles pass after rolling oli' of the trigger, a weight membernormally held in suspended position, means actuated upon rocking of thetrigger for releasing the weight member, means operated when the weightmember falls for causing a reportto be made simulating the report of agun and means for returning v the weight member and trigger mechanismsto normal position.

12. A plurality of target elements constructed to simulate buildings,ships or which said elements are arranged so that they are visible fromin front of the counter, a plurality of aerial vehicles, means formoving said aerial vehicles over the targets, a missile in each aerialvehicle, means in each aerial vehicle for releasing the missile andmeans controllable from the counter for actuating one or more releasingmeans independently or simultaneously at the will of the operator.

ALVIE G. APPERSON. MATHEW WOLFLE.

